Tarnauskaite gets rare opportunity to coach USA Volleyball High Performance team

A collegiate coach will rack up frequent flyer miles fairly easily, traveling across the region and nation to attract prospective student-athletes to the University of Montana. It's no different for assistant volleyball coach Giedre Tarnauskaite, with recruiting trips to spots like Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Utah and Washington – all in the past several months.

Next week's trip to Tulsa, Okla., isn't a recruiting trip, per se, but more of a unique opportunity.

Tarnauskaite was selected to coach a high performance team at USA Volleyball's High Performance Championships. As one of USA Volleyball's flagship events, more than 100 teams from across the country will convene in the Midwest for a week of high-level volleyball.

She and Washington State head coach Jen Greeny will coach the Evergreen Region HP team – consisting of players from the Pacific Northwest, including Montana, Idaho and Washington. While the HP Championships have been going on for several years, this is the first time the Evergreen Region has fielded a team.

"I'm really excited," the third-year UM assistant said. "Kids in our region can now aspire to make it to this level, and I think it gives them great exposure and experience at a high level."

For Tarnauskaite, her interest in coaching a HP team dates back to her time living in Portland. She spent three seasons coaching in Oregon, both collegiately and at the club level, and wanted to expand her skillset.

"Portland was a place that had a national tryout day, and I wanted to see what it was all about and if I wanted to progress with it," she said. "You start by volunteering your time at the tryout, literally tossing balls and assisting with drills."

The process is a pipeline from there. From volunteering at a tryout, you then might move up to an evaluator. Next might be working a training camp or being selected as a court coach.

"I worked my way up as I gained more experience," Tarnauskaite said.

In addition to her duties as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Griz, this HP opportunity has taken on extra work, requiring multiple trips to Spokane for tryouts and the selection of the team roster, plus preparation for the tournament.

It's no easy task bringing together several teenagers – all from different areas, backgrounds and teams – and having them play together at the drop of a pin. Following an open tryout in April, the players went their different ways, finishing club seasons and nationals in their hometowns. Many of them regrouped in early June for a weekend of practices, and will hold three workouts this weekend as one unit in Spokane before leaving for Tulsa on Monday.

The extra work is worth it to Tarnauskaite, not only for the personal opportunity but also for the advantage it gives Montana.

"Having a coach from our program associated with high performance, it puts our name out there," Tarnauskaite said.

More than just evaluating prospective student-athletes, though, the HP training also gives the players an opportunity to be exposed to the Griz brand and learn more about the program first hand by being coached by one of its own.

"It gives them a better feel for how we coach and what we're about," Tarnauskaite said. "We know the university, academically and athletically, is great, but they have to fit with who we are and what we're about and how we do things. This gives them the chance to see if that's the case."

The inaugural Evergreen HP team is competing in the Girls' National Youth division, open to girls born in 2002 or after. Pool play will begin Tuesday and extends through Friday, with bracket play and finals set for Saturday, July 28. Tarnauskaite will then return to Missoula – with new experiences and possibly new contacts for potential future Griz – one week before the 2018 Montana roster reports for fall camp.

"For me, I'm most excited to work with the top kids in the area, and more than anything, trying to make the region more competitive."

University of Montana Athletics

Tarnauskaite gets rare opportunity to coach USA Volleyball High Performance team

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